Help provide school supplies for children experiencing homelessness with HTLC’s 2023 Backpack Drive

HTLC partners with School on Wheels Massachusetts in support of its mission to support the academic, social, and emotional growth of Massachusetts students experiencing homelessness.

One of the ways we support this programming is by helping provide backpacks full of school supplies to students at the start of the school year. This year we are focusing on students in grades Kindergarten through second grade, and we need your help! You can support this initiative by dropping off supplies for backpacks by August 20. We will assemble the backpacks after worship on that sunday. If you are unable to shop for supplies at the moment, you can also support this initiative by making a monetary donation.

Supplies needed:

Focus on Grades K through 2
  • 17” inch grade appropriate backpack
  • Large Pencil Box
  • Ear Buds (if available)
  • Crayons 16 or 24 Pack
  • Washable Broad Tip Markers (8, 10 or 12 pack)
  • 8 Pencils
  • Large Pencil Sharpener w/Lid
  • 1 Large Eraser
  • 1 Flexible or Plastic Ruler
  • 2 Glue Sticks
  • 1 Blunt Scissors
  • 2 Pocket Folders (different colors)
  • 1 Single Subject Notebook
  • 1 Book selection, K – 2
  • 1 Inspirational Note

Lenten Reflections #5

NBC10 Philadelphia presents “Faces of Homeless Youth: The Silent Pandemic” “There are hundreds — maybe thousands — of young people who are homeless on the streets of Philadelphia. They are mostly invisible. You pass by them on the street; sit across from them on the train. They go to school and work, but don’t have a safe place to sleep at night.”

Lenten Reflections #4

In this week’s video we meet a woman who lets us know what keeps her going while making a home for herself under a bridge. Living Under a Bridge.

Lenten Reflections #3

In this week’s video we meet a single mom who tells the story of years of providing for her two school-aged daughters while living in their van.

Lenten Reflections #2

In this week’s video we meet a family of six – a mom and dad and four young children who are just about to be evicted from the one hotel room that has been their home.

Lenten Reflections #1

In this week’s video several people experiencing homeless answer the question, “What
is your story” asked by an interviewer from “Invisible People” which is an American 501 non-profit
organization working for homeless people in the United States. The organization educates the public about homelessness through storytelling, educational resources, and advocacy. (The stories for the next three Wednesdays come from the “Invisible People” project.)

https://youtu.be/-U_YiQga7bA